You Can Make a Difference

Today’s message was written by the Rev. Dr. Roger Kunkle, founder of Dial Hope.

Two roads diverged in the wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by,
and that has made all the difference.
– Robert Frost

Friend of Dial Hope, you can make a difference to someone – if you will. There’s a story about an old man walking along the beach. He notices a young man picking up starfish washed up ashore and throwing them back into the ocean. The old man asked why he was doing this. The young man replied that the starfish would die if left to the heat of the sun. To live, they must get back into the water.

The old man commented that there were many starfish scattered along the beach. It would be impossible to throw all of them back. “What difference can you make when there are so many?” The old man asked. The young man held one in his hand, looked at it, flung it back into the ocean and said, “It will make a difference to this one!”

The world is big and full of people, but somewhere there is one in need of your witness, your love, your care. For that one person, you can make all the difference in the world. You can’t do everything, but Edward Everett Hale has reminded us that you can do something:

I am only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But, still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything,
I will not refuse to do the something
That I can do.

Let us pray: Loving God, open our hearts to receive your rowdy surprises. Give us the courage to follow our hearts…to light a candle of hope, to make a difference in the life of even one person. Bring healing and hope and laughter to those with special needs. Watch over the men and women serving our country and bless everyone reading and listening to this message through Christ our Lord. Amen.